Sir Digby Jones finally stood down as director general of the CBI in July, but that doesn't mean he is going to be out of the limelight.

Or penniless.

The former Birmingham lawyer is probably in for a substantial pay day after amassing a plethora of non executive and advisory positions.

Although most of the companies taking on his services were keeping tight-lipped about remuneration packages, it would be fair to say that Sir Digby is in line for a substantial pay rise on the #325,000 a year he earned while at Centre Point.

A verage senior non-executive directors fees in the UK were almost #63,479 last year, according to recruitment company Spencer Stew-art, although the high profile advisory posts Sir Digby has picked up are likely to pay more.

When asked, all he would say was: "I know how much I will be earning, but I won't be telling The Birmingham Post."

Early estimates are that his income is likely to more than double as he embarks on an array of part-time jobs, including advisory positions at Deloitte, Barclays Capital and Ford.

At Ford, where he will be corporate and governmental affairs advisor to Ford of Europe and the Premier Automotive Group - which includes Land Rover and Jaguar - he is also likely to receive a company car.

He will continue his long appreciation of Jaguars, and will have a new #60,000 XK convertible to convey him for his one day a week to the company's offices London or the Midlands.

A spokesman for Ford said: "We are taking him on because he has a wealth of experience. He will bring something fresh to the company, a sense of the outside and a different perspective. He will be a different voice, which is important with his skills and experience.

"This is the first time we have had this kind of adviser, but we are sure he will be an asset to the company.

"He has a wide knowledge of business, not just in the UK but the rest of the world."

Ford stressed they were not taking him on to lobby for the company at governmental levels, or that Sir Digby would be a spokesman for the firm.

"He will help raise our profile at a national level, but if we need to speak to the Government, we can do that already. His key role will be in corporate affairs and advising our senior managers."

A business insider had a slightly different view.

"At Ford, they employ more people in Britain than Honda, Nissan and Toyota put together.

"But because the company has been in the UK for so long, people do not view it like those other companies.

"They think it is a home player. Ford will want Sir Digby to promote the brand and make people understand how important Ford is to Britain."

In addition to the Ford post, Digby has also been taken on by JCB, where he will be an advisor on government and international affairs.

Chief executive John Patterson said: "Sir Digby Jones has unrivalled experience of business, not only in Britain, but around the world and as JCB becomes increasingly global, his knowledge will prove invaluable.

"We look forward to working with Sir Digby in this key role."

At the time of his appointment Sir Digby himself explained part of the attraction.

"JCB is without doubt one of Britain's most successful companies and I'm delighted to be joining as an advisor.

"As Director General of the CBI I have visited more than 60 countries and seen first hand the global strength of the JCB brand. I look forward working with the company as it goes from strength to strength."

With JCB chairman Sir Anthony Bamford recently expressing an interest in buying Jaguar, it would be interesting to hear Sir Digby's advice.

Other firms hoping to benefit from the Digby touch include Aggregate Industries, where he will be an advisor, and Barclays Capital, the investment banking arm of Barclays Bank, which paid #83,000 to its senior non executive directors in 2005.

He has already started work at Barclays Capital, where the aim is to develop Barclays Capital's client relationships in the UK and internationally.

Bob Diamond, President of Barclays PLC, said: "I am very pleased to be able to draw on Sir Digby's wealth of experience in business and corporate finance.

"He has developed an almost unparalleled network of business and government contacts that will enhance the depth and breadth of our client franchise, in addition to providing our clients with his assessment on current business and political trends."

A business source said: "Digby is incredibly well connected in the board rooms of Britain and Europe, and he will be able to open doors for Barclays Capital.

"They will want introductions."

JCB on the other hand will want something slightly different, an interpreter rather than a networker.

A motor industry expert, who asked not to be named, said: "(JCB Chairman) Sir Anthony Bamford knows just about everyone, but JCB will want people who can interpret what is happening in China and India.

"Sir Digby knows the Indian government well, and could advise JCB about what trade tariffs might be coming in, or what the Chinese government might do to balance the growth of Shanghai."

Barclays approached Sir Digby in March, while Deloitte asked him to help out in last year. JCB made its pitch six months ago, while Ford got in touch at Christmas.

The offers are still coming in.

Sir Digby said: "I am still getting job offers. I got one this morning from a major multi national which has a presence in Britain and wants me to be an adviser to them.

"I've also been asked by one of the organisations in the city

if I could help them in their dealings with China and India. People are still ringing me up."

So, apart from the money, why is he doing it? He made no bones he was reducing his earning potential while at the CBI, and is now making up for lost time.

Sir Digby said: "I did not want to serve on the boards of companies, but wanted to advise where I could. My concern was where the company was going and how I can help protect and promote their interests.

"I can do that outside the boardroom."

Perhaps the most lucrative post he has lined up is as senior adviser to the executive of accountants Deloitte, also chairing its industry strategy board.

Here he will advise the firm's senior partner John Connolly, although again the exact remuneration is undisclosed, it would be safe to estimate he will be getting at least #300,000.

Average profit per partner rose to #765,000 this year, and with Sir Digby spending about 40 per cent of his time there, that makes him in line for #306,000.

He could be in line for an even bigger pay day if Mr Connolly decides to stand down from the top job, which last year paid a cool #4.166 million.

So what will Sir Digby be doing at Deloitte?

One accountancy source said: "The problem with accountancy and law firms is they often become very inward looking and very risk averse.

"They become very process driven. He will be there to make sure it does not become about ticking the next box and get them thinking more widely."

Other businesses include senior advisor to telephone banking providers Monitise; corporate affairs advisor to construction firm Bucknall Austin and special advisor to the Duke of York in connection with his role as the UK Special Representative for International Trade and Investment.

Sir Digby will also be a non-executive director of Aggregate Industries, electronics manufacture Alba, and Staffordshire legal firm MHL Support.

Not bad for someone who was expelled from Bromsgrove School on his last day for streaking after his team won the hockey cup.

Meanwhile, he is also talking to a couple of national newspapers about a weekly column, which will not just be about business matters, and a Sunday newspaper as well.

MPs with regular columns usually receive around #50,000 per year, so Sir Digby with his profile is likely to earn at least #100,000 for two columns a week, some way behind William Hague who gets #250,000 for his column in the News of the World.

Discussions are also under way about a radio phone-in show, probably on business matters, while there could also be another TV show to follow his Channel Four documentary on Polish immigration which aired in August.

But there won't be a book.

Sir Digby said: "I wrote a specimen chapter and there was an interest from a couple of publishers. But they said they would be interested if I named names. I only wrote 'a senior business figure said this or a minister said that'.

"If I was told things in confidence, I think it should remain that way. Maybe when I am 95 and those people are dead, but not before then."

Dr Adrian Caldart, an assistant professor at Warwick Business School, said: "Companies take on non executives and advisors because they have the experience and contacts the other directors don't have.

"They also provide a good balance on the board and can represent the shareholders' interests.

"Different companies will pay different amounts, depending on size and the profile of the person they are appointing. For senior, high profile people with long track records we could be talking about #10,000 per day."

But it is not just the business world which Sir Digby will be working in next.

He will also be a non executive director of Leicester Tigers rugby club, while he has pledged to remain involved with the charities he supported during his time at the CBI. These include a role as chairman of the Cancer Research UK Corporate Ambassadors. There, at least, his services are free.